I. adjective
Etymology: Middle English brenninge, from present participle of brennen to burn
1.
a. : on fire : alight , aflame , ignited
the house is burning
b. : excessively hot : fiery , ardent , shining , glowing
under a burning sun
a burning and dedicated spirit drove her
2.
a. : affecting with or as if with heat : heating
a burning fever
b. : inflaming, exciting
a burning enthusiasm
also : intense
burning wrath
c. : of fundamental and immediate import : urgent
a burning need
the burning issue of the day
d. of sensations : like that produced by a burn
a burning sensation on the tongue
3. : prominently in view : glaring , shocking — used especially of unpleasing states or conditions
a burning shame
a burning disgrace to his family
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English brenninge, from gerund of brennen
1.
a. : a consuming or being consumed by fire or heat
b. : the state or sensation of being on fire, as if on fire, or excessively heated
2. : subjection to the action of heat or of an agent that burns : combustion: as
a. : the calcining especially of limestone or ore
b. : the heating of ores without access to air preparatory to smelting
c. : a firing of ceramic materials (as for maturing, glazing, fixing colors)
d. : the sterilizing of soil for tobacco beds by burning piles of brush and wood on the area
3. : the effect produced on something by subjection to the action of heat or of an agent that burns: as
a. : the cutting or wearing caused by friction (as from blown sand) ; especially : the roughening or discoloration of material from heat produced in machining or abrasive finishing
b. : vulcanization by heat
c. : a withered brownish appearance of foliage (as in hopperburn or tipburn)
4. obsolete : an inflammatory disease ; especially : a venereal disease